"And it has struck me, Imhotep, that that is a weakness here on the estate.
May I speak freely?"
"Certainly, my good Hori.
Your words are always thoughtful and well-considered."
"Then I say this.
When you are away, Imhotep, there should be someone here who has real authority."
"I trust my affairs to you and to Yahmose -"
"I know that we act for you in your absence - but that is not enough.
Why not appoint one of your sons as a partner - associate him with you by a legal deed of settlement."
Imhotep paced up and down, frowning.
"Which of my sons do you suggest?
Sobek has an authoritative manner - but he is insubordinate - I could not trust him.
His disposition is not good."
"I was thinking of Yahmose.
He is your eldest son.
He has a gentle and affectionate disposition.
He is devoted to you."
"Yes, he has a good disposition - but he is too timid - too yielding.
He gives in to everybody.
Now if Ipy were only a little older -"
Hori said quickly: "It is dangerous to give power to too young a man."
"True - true - well.
Hori, I will think of what you have said. Yahmose is certainly a good son... an obedient son..."
Hori said gently but urgently: "You would, I think, be wise."
Imhotep looked at him curiously. "What is in your mind, Hori?"
Hori said slowly: "I said just now that it is dangerous to give a man power when he is too young.
But it is also dangerous to give it to him too late."
"You mean that he has become too used to obeying orders and not to giving them?
Well, perhaps there is something in that."
Imhotep sighed.
"It is a difficult task to rule a family!
The women in particular are hard to manage.
Satipy has an ungovernable temper; Kait is often sulky.
But I have made it clear to them that Nofret is to be treated in a proper fashion.
I think I may say that -"
He broke off.
A slave was coming panting up the narrow pathway.
"What is this?"
"Master - a barge is here.
A scribe called Kameni has come with a message from Memphis."
Imhotep got up fussily.
"More trouble," he exclaimed.
"As sure as Re sails the Heavens this will be more trouble!
Unless I am on hand to attend to things everything goes wrong."
He went stamping down the path and Hori sat quite still looking after him.
There was a troubled expression on his face.
II
Renisenb had been wandering aimlessly along the bank of the Nile when she heard shouts and commotion and saw people running towards the landing stage.
She ran and joined them.
In the boat that was pulling to shore stood a young man and just for a moment, as she saw him outlined against the bright light, her heart missed a beat.